Generous snowmobiler helps deputies rescue lost man

Fayette County deputies used a borrowed snowmobile and call tracking technology to locate and rescue a man yesterday afternoon after he had become lost in the woods.

Fayette County Sheriff's Office received several 911 calls around 3:30 p.m. from a man who was outside, disoriented and confused. The man said he was freezing and didn't know where he was.

With the E-911 system, the sheriff's office was able to find the approximate location of where the calls originated. Deputies responded to a wooded area two miles southeast of Oran off of 40th Street in Fayette County.

Upon arrival, they found Joseph Lee Wedemeir, of Oelwein, snowmobiling on a nearby trail. Wedemeir lent his snowmobile to the deputies to help them with the search.

“He didn't hesitate (to help) one bit,” Sheriff Marty Fisher said of Wedemeir.

With the help of the snowmobile, deputies located the lost man within 15 minutes of arrival.

Fisher said he greatly credits Wedemeir's generosity in the success of the swift rescue.

Fisher said it was unclear what the man was doing in the woods, how he became lost and exactly how long he had been outside.

The man was taken to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein. Fisher said he didn't believe his injuries were life-threatening.

Officials will not release the man's name.

Iowa State Patrol also assisted in the rescue.